Mohamed Saad
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 15th race meeting in the 2022-23 season at the Al Rayyan Racecourse dirt track on Wednesday, 30 November. The eighth and feature event was the Rowdat Rashid Cup for three-year-old and older Thoroughbreds. It was X FORCE (IRE) (Bungle Inthejungle x Nafa) who landed the spoils and claimed the cup for the second year in a row for himself and for the trio; owner Al Thumama Racing, trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and jockey Tomas Lukasek. On this seasonal debut, the 5YO gelding won the 1200m contest easily by 3 lengths, adding the 12th victory to his record. Whittle Le Woods (GB) (Lethal Force), in the colours of Nasser Saeed Al Eida, finished second under Marco Casamento for trainer Gassim Ghazali. The Yousuf Mubarak Al Kuwari-owned I Am Thunder (IRE) (Night Of Thunder) was the nearest behind the runner-up, finishing 3¼ lengths further under jockey Alberto Sanna for trainer Hamad Al Jehani.
QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi presented the trophies to the winners after the final race of the day.
Mekhdhim Al Naif
Kicking off the Day was the 1700m Handicap (0-65) for 3YO+ Local Purebred Arabians and in a thrilling battle for the victory, Al Naif Racing’s homebred and Georgina Ward-trained Mekhdhim Al Naif (QA) (TM Fred Texas x Sodouh Al Naif) just got the better of Mohab (QA) (Mu’Azzaz) by a neck under jockey Alberto Sanna.
Kaswara
In the second race, a 1700m Maiden for 3–6YO Local Thoroughbreds, Kaswara (QA) (Pivotal x Psiloveyou) benefitted from a good ride by JP Guillambert to gain victory by three quarters of a length for owner and trainer Hadi Saeed Mohammed Shafi Al Shafi.
Anees
In the 1700m Handicap (0-75) for 3YO+ Purebred Arabians, trainer Gassim Ghazali saddled a comfortable winner in the shape of the Nasser Saeed Al Eida-owned Anees (FR) (Jaafer ASF x Dixie Darlene), who won the third race by two and a quarter lengths under jockey Marco Casamento.
Eledeed
The fourth race in the card, a 1700m Handicap (0-75) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds, was taken in an impressive style by the Hamad Salem Al Marri-owned and Ali Al Saaq Al Marri-trained Eledeed (GB) (Al Kazeem x Resort), who gave jockey Saleh Salem Al Marri the simplest of tasks, winning by four and a quarter lengths.
Crush And Run
The 1200m Handicap (60-80) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds saw an exciting finish as the Al Jasra Stud-owned Crush And Run (IRE) (Zoffany x Mooching Along) held on from the charging Shijin (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor) to win the fifth race by a short head for trainer Tareq Essa Abdulla under jockey Saleh Salem Al Marri, who chalked up a quick-fire double.
Fuwairat
The Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani-owned Fuwairat (FR) (Amer x Sakina De Faust) took the sixth race, a 1900m Handicap (70-90) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians, as he galloped one and a half lengths clear for trainer Mohamed Khaled Elahmed. It was jockey JP Guillambert second winner on the day.
Unbutton
In the penultimate race of the day, a Handicap (70-90) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds, Alberto Sanna rode his second winner of the day on the Injaaz Stud-owned and Jihad El Ahmad-trained Unbutton (GB) (Cable Bay x Undress), who ran out a comfortable one and a half length winner of the 1200m run.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club